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Sooners coach Lon Kruger tells the junior not to interact with the crowd, focus on the game.

By Stephanie Kuzydym •
Published: February 28, 2013

Amath M'Baye knew what he was doing when he flashed the “Horns Down” sign at Texas fans after Oklahoma took a 22-point lead Wednesday night at the Erwin Center.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL / REACTION: Oklahoma's Amath M'Baye (22) reacts in the first half after making a basket and being fouled during an NCAA men's basketball game between the University of Oklahoma (OU) and Kansas State at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman

Even though OU would blow the lead in the last seven minutes and go on to lose the Big 12 basketball game in overtime, the junior forward said he doesn't regret what he did.

“It's just me,” M'Baye said. “I'm an energy guy. I get hyped. It's just a sign. It's a common sign between the two teams. You see it every day on TV. It's not like I was trying to be disrespectful or anything like that.”

Senior Romero Osby got after M'Baye, telling him to act with class. As the crowd booed M'Baye and moments later, Texas sophomore Myck Kabongo drew a foul, Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger replaced M'Baye with junior Tyler Neal. Part of the reason, Kruger said, was because of M'Baye's actions.

“We just don't do that,” Kruger said. “And he knows that. It was just kind of an emotional moment.”

Kruger spoke with M'Baye about it.

“We don't do those things in terms of relating to the crowd,” the second-year coach said. “We play each position by focusing between the lines. That's the only thing we addressed is, ‘Don't interact with the crowd.'”

NEXT GOAL: REGROUP

After the loss to Texas, OU began to look toward its Saturday game against Iowa State.

The Sooners and Cyclones are currently tied for fourth-place in the Big 12. In their last meeting, Iowa State beat Oklahoma by 19 points.

Kruger's message to his team after the loss to the Longhorns was to regroup for its next game.

“That's the nature of conference play,” Kruger said, “whether you win or lose, you're going to play another big ballgame three days from now.”

Although the Sooners blew a 22-point lead, Osby said: “We played really good defense. We shared a majority of the loose balls, we were happy for each other and happy to see each other make good plays.”